A cyberattack on Collins Aerospace led to ongoing travel disruptions at major European airports over the weekend. The U.K.'s Heathrow Airport, Brussels Airport, and Berlin Brandenburg Airport were affected, with disruptions extending into Sunday, September 21.

Brussels Airport requested airlines cancel half of Monday’s scheduled departing flights due to unresolved issues with its check-in system. Dublin Airport also experienced disruptions but said it expected to operate a full schedule on Sunday.

Check-In Chaos: Collins Aerospace Confirms Software Disruption

Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for airlines globally, was targeted in the cyberattack. Its parent company, RTX, confirmed it was aware of a “cyber-related disruption” to its MUSE software.

“The impact is limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop and can be mitigated with manual check-in operations,” RTX said in a statement to Reuters. It added that it was working to resolve the issue.

A Brussels Airport spokesperson stated that Collins had not yet delivered a secure updated version of the software required to restore full functionality.

Brussels, Berlin, Heathrow Among Worst Affected Airports

Heathrow Airport said on X that it was working to “resolve and recover” following the Collins outage. “We apologise to those who have faced delays, but by working together with airlines, the vast majority of flights have continued to operate,” it posted.

Brussels Airport described the cyberattack as having “a large impact on the flight schedule,” causing delays and cancellations. Berlin Airport also warned travelers of longer wait times due to a “systems outage at a service provider.”

Dublin Airport reported that airlines in Terminal 2 were using manual workarounds to generate bag tags and boarding passes, which caused slower check-in and bag drop processes.

Cancellations Continue as Airports Operate Manually

Cirium, an aviation analytics provider, said 38 departures and 33 arrivals were canceled across Heathrow, Berlin, and Brussels by 10 a.m. London time on Sunday. On Saturday, 35 departures and 25 arrivals were canceled, with Brussels experiencing the highest number of flight cancellations at 15.

Cybersecurity Warnings as Attacks Target Shared Systems

Charlotte Wilson, head of enterprise at cybersecurity firm Check Point, said the aviation industry is a particular target due to its reliance on shared digital systems.

“These attacks often strike through the supply chain, exploiting third-party platforms that are used by multiple airlines and airports at once,” she said in an emailed statement.

She recommended that aviation companies ensure software systems are regularly updated and well-tested backup systems are in place. She also called for better information-sharing between technology providers, airlines, and governments.

“Cyberattacks rarely stop at national borders, so the faster one country can identify and report an attack, the faster others can take action to contain it,” Wilson said. “A joined-up defence will be far more effective than siloed responses.”

PHOTO: FREEPIK

This article was created with AI assistance.